16 entrepreneurs
Successful from a young age – the model entrepreneur
Until the age of four and a half, Sharon Richey could neither walk or talk but, after gaining mobility and finding her voice, she has been making up for it ever since. Her entrepreneurial career began when she formed her first business aged just nine and today, as founder and CEO of brand experience agency BEcause, Richey is a veritable powerhouse with global ambitions. Headquartered in Ascot, with offices on the South Bank and in Sydney; the award-winning business has a turnover nearing £9 million and employs a core team of just over 45, plus around 900 field staff. Alison Dewar found out the secrets of her success
Born in Durban, South Africa, Sharon Richey and her sister grew up in what she describes as an “entrepreneurial” household. From organising a beer festival aged just 15 to running her own modelling agency at 17, she was so successful that she dropped out of a business degree after just a year in order to focus on her company. By 21, she discovered a taste for adventure and sold up to go travelling, ending up in Monte Carlo where she enjoyed an “incredible life experience”. Three months later, she arrived back in England with just £500 in her pocket, working first in the perfume department at Harrods before a chance encounter led her to the doors of a promotions agency. Fast forward a few months and she bought the company which, over the years, has evolved into BEcause. Richey, 42, is married and lives in Sunningdale with her husband and two small children, and she also has two stepsons aged 14 and 20.
and confiscated all the drinks, but as I was a minor they couldn’t arrest me. I made enough money to set up my first proper business, which was the modelling agency.
Why modelling?
I modelled from a young age and, unlike the UK where there are plenty of activities for children, there was nothing similar in SA, so I started a modelling, grooming and deportment school. We quickly grew from just 5 to about 500 pupils and it was great for building their confidence. I taught the younger ones and every three months we had graduation ceremonies, which was a good way to drive revenue as all the parents wanted to come.
By the time I was 20, I realised all my friends had been having fun travelling and I decided I needed to do the same, which is when I sold up.
Tell us about your childhood
I was born with a dislocated hip and not only did the doctors say I would never walk, but I also didn’t speak. Mum’s best friend was a physiotherapist, so I went every day and eventually I started to walk and talk. Mum says I had a real look of determination, as if I had hundreds of thoughts running through my head all the time, which is true.
What was your first business venture?
Growing up in South Africa, we had domestic staff working for us, so when I was nine, I set up a home industry utilising their sewing skills to produce clothing for an overseas brand. Now I look back and think it was really quite something to have done that.
When I was 15, I organised a huge beer festival on our front lawn – I sold tickets so I could get round the issue of not being allowed to sell alcohol. Unfortunately the police came along
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Where does your entrepreneurial spirit come from?
My mother says it was from my grandfather, who was a director of Liberty Life; one of my great grandfathers had a shipping line and another was a diamond hunter.
I’ve always been driven by the need to work hard and be productive. I don’t sit still very often. I have a lot of personal drive, and it’s never been just about the money.
What happened when you arrived in London?
It was the early 90s, while I was working in Harrods, I was introduced to promotional work and then met a photographer who took some photos for my portfolio. He sent my card out to an agency and when I went to see one of the business owners he offered me a job instead. That was MHP and I ended up buying the business.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JULY/AUGUST 2015 How did you raise the money?
The bank manager said every year he could take a gamble on one or two people and he decided to lend me £100,000. I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for but hard work didn’t scare me and I worked 24/7 to build the business up. At the time MHP provided promotional staffing and it quickly evolved into working direct with brands and running national campaigns. From there, the business developed into LoewyBe and finally BEcause, which I founded in 2003.
Tell us about BEcause
BEcause is a live brand experience agency, dedicated to enhancing brand love. Brand awareness won’t always drive sales, brand love is what drives desire, loyalty and advocacy. So
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